Bulleid WC/BB 'West Country' and
'Battle of Britain' class 4-6-2

Recognising the Southern's close association with
the west of England, and also that this class of locomotive would be able to
serve the area comprehensively, some 66 were named after places and features in
that area whilst some 44 were named after squadrons and other aspects
associated with the Battle of Britain. These were referred to as the Battle of
Britain "class" but it must be remembered that in all aspects other
than the naming they were identical locos to the WC "class". Although
the engines were prone to similar problems encountered with the MN class the
Southern stole a march on the other railway companies and gained a considerable
amount of public support by at the time introducing a bold forward looking
design wearing a bright livery and by their naming policy honouring the war
effort. Far, far from Waterloo, beyond Okehampton to Launceston and Padstow,
from Barnstaple via the 1 in 36 Morthoe bank to Ilfracombe, over Meldon viaduct
or along the GWR route to Plymouth, on the S&D line to Bath, the "West
Country" pacifics were doing their stuff, and more than holding their own
if rostered for a MN turn to Salisbury.

Nº34056 Croydon at Yeovil MPD on 3rd August 1959.

photograph: Mike Morant collection

Nº34079 141 Squadron arriving at Barnstaple Junction
with a train from Ilfacombe, 20th April 1960. The first coaches are Bulleid
3-set 782 of 1947 consisting of BSK 4325, CK 5763 and BSK 4326.

Nº34024 Tamar Valley, date not known but before the engine received a modified tender
on February 1961.

photograph: Mike Morant collection

Nº34103 Calstock arriving at Southampton, date also not known.

photograph: Mike Morant collection

Nº34078 222 Squadron on an up train at Ashford
Strand by the River Taw between Braunton and Barnstaple. The date is sometime
in the summer of 1962.

photograph by John Bradbeer

Nº34080 74 Squadron at Barnstaple Junction during early 1963.

photograph by John Bradbeer

Nº34007 Wadebridge passing Raynes Park on 12th April
1963 with a service for Bournemouth West via Sway.

photograph by Mike Morant

On 27th April 1963 fifteen specials from Southampton took
supporters to an FA Cup semi-final. Ten of the specials from Southampton ran
via Basingstoke, Oxford and Leamington to Snow Hill, nine of them with Southern
Pacifics throughout, one of which was Nº34094 Morthoe, pictured
here at Hatton.